borrow

CEFRA2

/ˈbɒɹəʊ/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To take and use something that you will return later.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To adopt (an idea) as one's own.

Examples

  • When we borrow money, we must agree on the conditions.

  • You can borrow up to four books from the library.

At a glance

Sits at A2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈboɹ.oʊ/
  • /ˈbɔɹo/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings
  1. To receive money from a bank or other lender under the agreement that the lender will be paid back over time.

  2. To receive (something) from somebody temporarily, expecting to return it.

  3. To adopt a word from another language.

More examples

In context
  • May I borrow your dictionary?

  • Can I borrow a sheet of paper?

  • to borrow the style, manner, or opinions of another

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

Can I blank your umbrella for the day since it's raining heavily?

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English borwen, from Old English borgian (“to borrow, lend, pledge surety for”), from Proto-West Germanic *borgōn, from Proto-Germanic *burgōną (“to pledge, take care of”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰergʰ- (“to take care”). Cognate with Dutch borgen (“to borrow, trust”), German borgen (“to borrow, lend”), Danish borge (“to vouch”). Related to Old English beorgan (“to save, preserve”). More at bury.